Loyola University Maryland men's lacrosse defeated Bucknell University, 14-3, on Saturday, March 26, 2016, at Ridley Athletic Complex. Pat Spencer scored a goal and had six assists, and Jordan Germershausen tallied three goals. Jacob Stover made 12 saves and allowed just one goal in 49-plus minutes for Loyola.

Loyola University Maryland men's lacrosse defeated Army West Point, 12-6, on Friday, April 22, 2016

Three-time All-American and reigning Major League Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year Joe Fletcher has joined the Loyola University Maryland men’s lacrosse staff as the program’s director of operations.

Fletcher, who graduated from the University in 2014, was a three-time All-American for the Greyhounds, earning first team honors as a junior and senior while also being named the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association William C. Schmeisser Defensive Player of the Year for 2014.

More recently, Flecther was named the 2015 MLL Defensive Player of the Year after leading the New York Lizards to the league championship. In his second professional season, Fletcher earned MLL All-Star honors while helping the Lizards allow a league-low in goals against (192 including playoffs). He picked up 60 regular-season ground balls and seven in the playoffs.

As a collegian, Fletcher capped his career at Loyola that included the 2012 NCAA Championship with a spectacular senior season. He led all close defenders nationally with 80 ground balls and also caused 31turnovers while the Greyhounds spent the majority of the season ranked No. 1 nationally.

“When he was a student-athlete at Loyola, Joe was not only one of the most decorated players in our program’s history, but he was an outstanding leader in our locker room and demonstrated every quality that you want in a player,” said Charley Toomey, Loyola’s head coach. “Joe has been looking to start a career in college athletics, and we feel very fortunate to add him to our staff heading into the 2016 season.”

Fletcher was the just the second defender to be a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award as the nation’s top collegiate lacrosse player; Fletcher was also the 2014 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in addition to earning a slew of academic honors for his work in the classroom. He was the Patriot League Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the League’s overall Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

“Loyola and its men’s lacrosse program have had tremendous impacts on my life, and to have the chance to give back to Loyola in any capacity is an honor,” Fletcher said. “To be able to work for the men’s lacrosse program is a humbling experience. The program helped me achieve many of my goals, and to be to share a bit of knowledge from my experiences with the student-athletes is something I am looking forward to.”

Following his graduation, Fletcher was the recipient of the prestigious NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award, an honor that recognizes student-athletes for their successes on the fields and courts, in the classroom and in the community. He was just the second Patriot League student-athlete and sixth men’s lacrosse player to be recognized with the award that began in 1972.

The Syracuse, New York, native was the lone collegian to be a member of the 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team 30-player roster for the World Championships, and he was the No. 3 overall selection in that year’s MLL Collegiate Entry Draft, the highest a Loyola player has ever been taken.

Fletcher was named the Loyola athletic department’s John R. Mohler Award as the top male student-athlete at the school. He wrapped up his college career with 191 ground balls and 76 caused turnovers.

Earlier this year, Fletcher was named to the Patriot League’s 25th Anniversary Team as one of the top 25 players in conference history despite playing just one season in the League.

After graduation, Fletcher worked for PriceWaterhouse Coopers in Baltimore while playing professionally for the Lizards.